VN, Switzerland mark 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Illustration photo

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse  are paying an official visit to Sweden from May 26-28 at the invitation of Swedish PM Stefan Löfven. 

Sweden set up diplomatic relations with Viet Nam on January 11, 1969, becoming the first Western country to establish diplomatic ties with Viet Nam.

Over the past 50 years, Sweden has offered great support and assistance to Viet Nam during the past struggle for national independence and the present cause of national construction.

In March 2014, Sweden held the first conference of Swedish ambassadors in Asia in Ha Noi, which coincided with the 45th founding anniversary of Viet Nam-Sweden diplomatic relations.

In January 2014, the parliament of Sweden ratified the European Union-Viet Nam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).

Trade value between the two countries has been on the rise, hitting over US$1.8 billion in 2018.

By March 2019, Sweden had ranked 33rd out of 131 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam with 67 valid projects. 

Swedish-invested projects have covered seven provinces and cities of Viet Nam. Many big firms of Sweden have marked their presence in the country, including Ericsson, ABB, IKEA, Electrolux, Volvo and H&M.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam has had two FDI projects in Sweden.

Sweden is the biggest Northwestern European provider of non-refundable aid for Viet Nam with total capital of over US$3 billion since 1967, chiefly in health care, economic reform, institutional building, law, administrative reform, human resource development, environment, climate change, and anti-corruption.

Through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Sweden has supported many culture projects in Viet Nam. The two countries have signed two deals on culture and communications.

Regarding tourism, the total number of Swedish visitors to Viet Nam reached 44,045 in 2017 and 49.723 in 2018, up 16.9% and 13% year on year, respectively./.

By Kim Anh